Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13
first place-not TO be subordinsted 70
politics or personal affairs.
RICHMOND NEWSPAPERS


Main street.
The Richmond Times: William O.
Carrincton. editor and proprietor Office
on Twelfth street between Main ana
Cary. ,
the Richmond Enquirer BY VIII
liam L. & Thomas Richie, Jr. ; Office
corner Of Main and Eleventh Streets
next below American Hotel.
The Richmond Examiner: by b. III.
Dewitt & John NJ. Daniel; office on
Main street five doors below Exchange
Bank. 49,,
Alldailies except the Examiner, which
was semi-weekly.
sSruE DISPATCH STARTED.
The fame OF the paper agreed upon
VAS the Dauy Dispatch, Hugh II.
Pleasauts, Esq, was employed as editor.
and an Office and composingroom was
secured on Governor street in building
which occupied the site of the present
wholesale clearinghouse of Weisiger
Tiffany. The first paper was issued on
the morning OF October 10, 1880. 10 was
sheet about third of the size OF the
Dispatch as il now is, and the edition
was 900 copies, which, as Cowardin
Davis had not then obtained press,
was worked ofr-printed-at the job
Office Of Johnston. Baptist Colin.
The paper was fayombly received from
the start. and being sold for one cent
COPY mt once attained good circulation.
But the wing and Enquirer were great
political papers, and the Wing merchants
regarded il rs duty to advertise in the
! UHiq. The Democrats were no less
loyal TO the Enquirer. and other adver-
tis;ing was controlled 10y the three other
papers, SO that the business being much
cut up, the Dispatch did not at onco
command great advertising patronage.
Its success in that important direction
was gradual-so gradual, indeed, that
after few months Mr.. Davis became
convinced that It conld never be estab-
lished as Il paying enterprise. He there
upon sold ont his interest to Mr.. Cowar-
din, who. with his sanguine disposition,
saw a great future for the paper where
others could discern but a doubtful ven-
ture. Mr.. Davis lived to see the Dis
patch n valuable property, and met his
death at the Capitol disaster April "a,
1870.
THIRTEENTH AND MAN.
Bat to go back Foryears aud yearst the
Dispatch was published with the name
of James A. Cowardin as proprietor and
Hugh r.. Peasants as editor, and when
its success became assured the Office was
removed 10 the southeastern corner OF
Main and Thirteenth streets, IN build
ing which preceded the present one,
which Is occupied by the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. There the Dis
pdfch was comfortably housed and
equipped. In the rear was 1.-THE DIS
mitch Job-Ollice j. ID. Hammersley &
Co., proprietors. -,
} MIR. Oliver p. Baldwin succeeded Mr..
peasants as editor, but at one period
about lS6l-they were both writing for
, the paper, and Mr.. Cowardin, as no
, found timo from other engagements,
+ also contributed
Mr.. Hammersly managed the count
ing-room, and during the war acquired
S a hall interest in the paper.
EFFECT or WAR on NEWSPAPERS.
The Richmond papers were published
during the war under peculiar difficulties.
Such were the demands Of the army II
= was n great struggle to get the men
necessary to set the type and work OH
; the paDer There was more trouble still
in getting the paper whereon TO PRINT.
! There were but few paper-mills IN our
lines, and these had 10 give preference
10 the orders of the Confederate Govern
ment. and the stuff they turned out for
IL "a. xnllI
name. Ink, too, was scarce such as WAS
run through the blockade was very costly
such as was made here was not good.
These and many other troubles con-
fronted Mr.. Cowardin and Mr.. Ham
J mersly during the war Worse than all
y however, their type was worn out, and
the new dress could not be procured in
the Confederacy and in the last year oil
" the war Mr.. Hammersly undertook q
run the blockade and 20 to England and
/ get new outfit. Before going he sold
:, one half OF his one-half interest IN the
:, paper TO Mr.. James w. Lewellen. who
d had long been the active and efficient
: local editor.
Mr. Hammersley obtained the outi,
l. and got il through the blockade and into
the DisDatch office, but before 1t could
be used for the first time 1t and all the
contents of the building was destroyed
. in the great fire Of the evacuation, April
% 3, 1866.
- BURNED AT THE EVACUATION.
N Saturday night, April |, 1865, Mr.
Q. Cowardin went 10 visit his family IL
d Halifax. Sunday President Davis, sit
le ting in st. Pauls church, received thu
,e telegram from General Lee that hi
lie army must retreat Monday the cit.
ID was on fire, and the Dispatch Office wa
ID destroyed.
Is Owing to military restrictions Mr.. Go
rs wardin could not get TO Richmond iron
10 Halifax for six weeks. In the meal
le time, Mr.. w. l.. Cowardin, his brother
nr acting for him, together with Mr.. Lew
er ellen, sought permission from the Taill
lie tary authorities TO revive the Dispatch
e. I positive refusal was the answer.
a NEWSPAPER REVEALS.
re The Win Office escaped destruction
te and that paper proceeded with ITS pupil
u, cation. The iob-oilice OF G. II. Wynnt
n. northwest corner Of Main and tourteent
ed streets. ais escaped, and from there !
nd few days issued the Richmond Time
'le of which II. Riyes Pollard, who had bee
n ON the Examiner under John III. Dai
as iel was the managing editor and Pattic
Henry Aylett editor-in-chief. The
sprAng into existence the Repudtie, =
q. sued from the upper floors OF the bull
a ing where now the state is, then b'
no lately occupied by the Confederate Go
he ernment as bureau for the printing
er. small currency. Other papers soon fe
M lowed.
cal II was not until December that M
ain Cowardin, having joined with him NJ
a Henry X. Ellyson, under the firm nan
~ 'va OF Cowardin 4 Ellyson, editors and pr
- prietors, revived the Dispatch.
Mr.. Ellyson is practical prints
n. .,,o,,,- x,aars hafora tha war he V